Chester Zoo grows over 2000 carnivorous plants – entirely without peat. Carnivorous plants have needed more research than other species when it comes to growing peat-free, as many naturally evolved to grow in peatland ecosystems. But when growing elsewhere, avoiding extracted peat means our bogs can remain intact.

As the Peat-free Partnership continues to push for legislation to end the sale and supply of peat for horticulture in all four nations of the UK, we want to highlight organisations who have already made the switch.

In this series industry professionals show off their peat-free success and combat common myths that surround growing without peat. Don’t let us tell you that growing peat-free is perfectly possible – hear it straight from the industry.

Chester Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in England, welcoming nearly 2 million visitors in 2024. As well as providing a great day out for visitors across the UK, they host important conservation research efforts. Among these are their award-winning gardens, hosting five national collections of particular plant species. This includes Nepenthes, the tropical pitcher plant.

Richard Hewitt from the Chester Zoo team explains how they’ve been successful in growing their huge collection of carnivorous plants without using peat.